Speech Interface Device Language Switching
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing speech interface devices face challenges in processing multiple languages efficiently, especially when a remote system is unavailable or slower, leading to poor user experience due to network latency and resource constraints.
Innovation Solution
A speech interface device capable of switching between locales to locally process utterances in different languages, using hybrid functionality to manage connections and load language models dynamically, allowing for offline speech processing and efficient resource management.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the speech interface device relies on remote systems for speech processing, then the device can access advanced language models and processing capabilities, but network latency and unavailability degrade user experience and response time
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides speech processing into two segments: local processing capabilities (ASR, NLU, skill execution) and remote processing capabilities (advanced language models). The device segments its functionality to perform basic speech tasks locally while optionally connecting to remote systems for enhanced processing, thereby reducing latency for common tasks while maintaining access to advanced capabilities when needed.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements preliminary action by pre-loading language models and processing components locally onto the speech interface device. This allows the device to perform speech recognition and understanding tasks immediately without waiting for remote system responses, significantly reducing network latency impact while maintaining the option to access remote advanced models when available.
2Adaptability or versatility
If the device loads multiple language models locally to support multiple languages, then offline speech processing capability improves, but device memory and processing resources are consumed
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements dynamics by making language model loading and unloading configurable and adaptive. The system can dynamically load language models into memory when needed for specific language tasks and unload them when not in use, allowing the device to support multiple languages without permanently consuming resources for all languages simultaneously.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies parameter changes by allowing configurable control over which language models are loaded and when. The system can change the state of language model loading based on detected language, user preferences, and resource availability, optimizing the balance between language versatility and resource consumption.
3Adaptability or versatility
If the device switches between different locales and language models, then language versatility improves, but processing interruptions and connection management complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a hybrid proxy as an intermediary component that manages the complexity of switching between locales and language models. The hybrid proxy acts as a mediator between the speech processing components and the language models, handling connection management, locale transitions, and resource coordination automatically, thereby reducing the overall system complexity despite language switching capability.
Data Source
AI summary
A speech interface device is configured to switch between languages, at the request of a user, in order to locally process utterances spoken in different languages, even in instances when a remote system is unavailable to, slower than, or otherwise less preferred than the speech interface device. For example, a user can request to set the language setting of the speech interface device to a second language, different from a first language to which the language setting of the device is currently set. Based on this user request, a local speech processing component of the device may load a language model(s) associated with the second language. The speech interface can also output voice prompts in the second language to manage the user's experience while a language update is in progress on the speech interface device.